Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has declared his firm support for the creation of a new state in the South-East region, describing the move as a necessary step toward correcting Nigeria’s long-standing federal structure imbalance.
Speaking with journalists after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chambers, Centenary City, Abakaliki, Governor Nwifuru said the South-East deserves an additional state to ensure equity among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
“Yes, I support the creation of another state in the South-East. It is a necessity for the region and will help correct the imbalance we have witnessed for years,” Nwifuru stated.
The South-East currently has only five states, unlike other regions with six or more, a disparity regional leaders have repeatedly described as politically disadvantageous.
Addressing reports that Ebonyi State may lose three local government areas to the proposed state, Governor Nwifuru said he had not received any official communication on the issue.
“I am now in the executive, not the legislature,” he explained. “I have not seen any official document about that, so I cannot comment on what I have not seen.”
On another note, the governor expressed concern over the increasing number of youths using social media to insult elders and stakeholders in the state. He warned that such conduct undermines cultural values and respect for leadership.
“People are cashing out from insulting elders online,” he said. “Our youths should understand the traditional consequences of such behavior.”
Governor Nwifuru’s position aligns with the ongoing agitation for equal state creation in the South-East, a topic gaining renewed momentum as discussions on Nigeria’s restructuring and political equity resurface.
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